Namingevent for new ship

Fortescue Metal Group’s second very large ore carrier, named after Andrew Forrest’s daughter, was welcomed into Port Hedland last week after its maiden voyage from China.

A ceremony was held aboard the FMG Grace as it docked into Port Hedland which included the formal naming of the ship.

FMG founder and chairman Andrew Forrest, his wife Nicola and his daughter Grace, as well as 10 Vocational Training and Employment Centre trainees joined the ship’s captain and crew to celebrate the milestone.

The ship’s captain was presented with a piece of indigenous art by local artist and Karimurra woman May Chapman during the ceremony.

The ship’s namesake, Grace Forrest, said she was honoured to be part of the ceremony which also recognised the power of women.

“Gender equality is a core priority for Fortescue, evidenced through its gender balanced board and the number of women in leadership roles throughout the company,” she said.

“It’s great to be a part of the ceremony that also recognised International Women’s Day and the 2017 theme ‘empower a woman, empower a nation’.”

Mr Forrest said he was excited his daughter could attend the ship’s naming ceremony.

“We were very proud to welcome the second of Fortescue’s fleet of ore ships into Port Hedland,” he said.

“Family is at the heart of Fortescue’s values and we were honoured to be joined today by the current group of VTEC trainees, who are a very important part of our Fortescue family.”